Welcome To Survivors of Trauma

Founded in 1995 by a group of local people, Survivors of Trauma is a self help grassroots organisation that works with individuals who have been directly affected by the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Located in the BT14 area of North Belfast the organisation acts as a safe neutral space for people to come together and set out on their journey towards healing and reconciliation.

Through the years, Survivors of Trauma has worked in response to local need examining and exploring alternative and creative approaches to resolving the grief, injury, anger and despair experienced as a result of living for almost 30 years, with arguably the highest level of troubles – related violence than any other area in Northern Ireland.

Everyone has the right to resolve the trauma that they have experienced in their own way, and that this must always be respected. We continue to build upon this belief through the unique holistic approach that we take.

We recognise that the suffering within our community continues on all sides and that the potential for inter - community conflict in North Belfast is extremely high. The area has been described as a patchwork of small communities, often separated by walls and ‘peacelines’ where interface violence still disrupts the lives of ordinary people trying to raise their families. The socio-economic decline evident in North Belfast is illustrated in the high number of electoral wards in the area ranked amongst the most multiple deprived neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland.

How do we keep the past alive without becoming its prisoner? How do we forget it without risking its repetition in the future?
(Ariel Dorfman)

Today, Survivors of Trauma is located in the stunning setting of St Silas Church, situated at 151 Cliftonville Road, Belfast. We are proud of our reputation as a leading victims/survivors community group within the social economy and community sector.